Hi my name is Simona,

Many in the Bentleigh area will know me for my fundraising fitness inspired challenges in Bentleigh for Breast Cancer Research, and other worthy causes.

I am not normally one to ask for help but I am desparate to get home to help my parents in Italy.

My father is over 80 and sufferring from heart conditions and my mum is 78. They were fortunate to escape their home in the middle of the night with the clothes on their backs and their essential medications when flooding triggered a mud slide which has engulfed their home.

All of the surrounding villages have been severely impacted and emergency services are overwhelmed. My father who has spent 20 years working in the Volunteer Emergency Service says its as bad as anything he has every seen, and he has seen earthquakes, bush fires and floods before.

They have been told that they cannot return to their home, and that it may in fact be more than a year, if ever, before they are able to return.

I desparately want to get home to support them, and help find a solution for their accomodation and care.

Any support from our lovely community I will pay-on through my continued commitment to fundraising for our community causes.

But right now I need your help.